Sharks coach Dick Muir will operate a two-team system in this year’s ABSA Currie Cup, much along the lines of the All Blacks.

Mike Greenaway, writing in the Mercury Newspaper, described the rationale as Muir looks to build a strong squad for the 2007 Vodacom Super 14.

Mark Steel, the Sharks conditioning coach, told Greenaway: “In the past there has always been a problem of the guys not having time and opportunity to do gym work while the season is under way,” Steel said. “It has been difficult to maintain their strength during the course of the season. The problem is that you can’t work out heavily when you have a game on Saturday. But this new system will allow us to work on each individual’s needs, whether it be putting on muscle, developing explosive power or improving speed. There has also always been the issue of there being too short an off-season between the end of the Currie Cup and the Super 14, so this will allow us to get a head start in our Super 14 preparation.”